Langford never thought it would be in the running to host a FIFA World Cup team base camp – but with 2026 on the horizon, the city is closer than ever to making it happen.
It’s not alone. Port Alberni has also thrown its hat in the ring, proposing Bob Dailey Stadium as a potential training site. While Langford’s bid is in its final stages, the Alberni Valley group has already submitted expressions of interest to FIFA and launched local fundraising efforts.
As the tournament draws near, both Vancouver Island communities are racing to join the roster of North American host sites – not by staging matches, but by offering team base camps that could put them on the global stage.
Teams will play group-stage games in Vancouver, Seattle, Los Angeles, and other major centres. But FIFA also needs locations where those squads can live, train, and recover.
That’s where Langford’s Starlight Stadium and Port Alberni’s Bob Dailey Stadium come in. If all goes to plan, two of the tournament’s 48 national teams could call Vancouver Island home for nearly a month – drawing international media, fans, and attention to the region.
While both cities are vying to become a team base camp, it’s important to note that it isn’t necessarily a case of one or the other. With each team in the tournament needing a place to call home, there’s a possibility that both Langford and Port Alberni could be selected as hosts.
Mark deFrias, founder of deFrias Management Group and lead consultant on Langford’s bid, says Langford is nearing the final stages of their bid.
“Right now, we’re at the final stages of being accepted – it’s just a matter of financing,” deFrias said.
FIFA scouts have already toured Starlight Stadium and nearby hotels, and according to deFrias, every conversation so far has been promising.
There’s one major hurdle: FIFA requires a natural grass pitch at all training camps – the same surface used in official World Cup matches. Starlight’s current artificial turf will need to be removed and replaced with grass. After the tournament, the city would reinstall new artificial turf. The total cost of the switch is estimated between $1 million and $1.5 million.
Langford’s timing couldn’t be better. The city had already planned to replace the aging turf, and the old mat can be repurposed for other municipal fields. Still, deFrias says provincial and federal support will be critical.
“When you look at the hundreds of millions going into Vancouver’s stadiums, this is a small ask to bring the World Cup experience to our region,” he said.
BC Place in Vancouver is expected to receive between $483 million and $581 million in upgrades and support to help host the event.
The economic upside would be substantial. A team base camp designation means daily training sessions open to international media, local fans, and VIPs. Cameras from around the globe could beam images of Starlight Stadium and Bob Dailey Stadium into living rooms on every continent.
“For four weeks, reporters, fans, and supporters would follow that team’s every move from Langford – whether they’re practising drills, holding press conferences, or lining up shots on goal,” deFrias said. “Imagine Lionel Messi or Kylian Mbappé here – it would be electric.”
Port Alberni, meanwhile, touts one key advantage: Bob Dailey Stadium already features a natural grass pitch. Abu Hasan Muhammed Jahangir, secretary and co-lead of the Alberni Valley committee, emphasized the broader opportunity.
“This is more than just soccer. It’s about putting the Alberni Valley on the global map and attracting worldwide attention to the entire Island,” he said. “Our climate closely matches that of Vancouver and Seattle, making it an excellent preparation site for teams.”
Back in Langford, the next steps hinge on funding. DeFrias has held productive talks with city officials and remains optimistic that provincial support will materialize. If the financial piece falls into place, FIFA could formally designate Langford as a base camp location within weeks.
The official draw for the 2026 World Cup happens in January of that year. That’s when national teams will learn their group-stage opponents – and where their base camps will be located. Langford hopes to hear its name called.
And for 28 days, they would become the temporary home of one of the world soccer giants.
Seven matches are scheduled at BC Place in Vancouver, including two featuring Canada’s national team. Just south of the border, Seattle’s Lumen Field will host six World Cup games.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19. It will mark the first edition to feature 48 teams – up from 32 – and the first time the tournament is co-hosted by three nations: Canada, the United States, and Mexico. It will also be the first time since 1994 that the World Cup is held in North America.
